Survey study, 2010
Does premenstrual distress predict how women respond to challenges that trigger panic?
Women with higher premenstrual distress had significantly greater panic symptoms when breathing CO2-enriched air, but this is preliminary evidence in a small study.
What they did
46 young adult women from the community filled out questionnaires about premenstrual symptoms and anxiety. Then they breathed 10% CO2-enriched air for 4 minutes while researchers measured their panic symptoms and skin conductance responses.
What they found
Women with higher premenstrual distress scores had significantly greater self-reported panic symptoms following the CO2 challenge, even after accounting for anxiety sensitivity, cigarette use, and alcohol consumption. For skin conductance response, premenstrual distress showed only a trend toward significance.
What it means for you
Premenstrual symptoms may be a risk factor for experiencing intense panic symptoms when your body feels unusual. The study was small, cross-sectional (tested at one point in time), and found only preliminary evidence.
46
women studied
4
minutes of CO2 inhalation
10%
CO2 concentration
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual distress predicts panic-relevant responding to a CO2 challenge among young adult females
- Authors
- Nillni YI, Rohan KJ, Bernstein A et al.
- Journal
- Journal of anxiety disorders
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 46
- What was tested
- None (tested whether existing premenstrual distress predicted responses to CO2 inhalation)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.02.006
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